It's Dark and Hell Is Hot [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

DMX

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• Original Release Date: May 19, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B000006O62
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (346 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,891 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > East Coast

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Watching DMX--baldheaded and shirtless, tattooed and musclebound--as he simultaneously goes platinum and gets arrested on rape charges (both of which occurred within weeks of this album's release), one can easily see the Yonkers, New York, rapper as a Tupac in training. And he's certainly no stranger to dumb thuggery on his much-anticipated debut. But unlike Tupac, who tempered hard-core beatdowns with party pick-me-ups, DMX is strictly business, part of a street reaction against the Puff Daddy-fueled, late-1990s slew of lightweight pop-rap crossovers. With a name too true for its own good, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot could occasionally use a cool breeze of levity. That said, the record is not without merit; despite the album's largely standard-issue beats and rhymes, both DMX's forceful voice and solid production have moments of greatness. At times DMX even manages to squeeze memorable hooks out of this otherwise claustrophobic release. --Roni Sarig

Spin

It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is a psychotic concept album that celebrates bloody style over creative substance.... While the often rough minimalistic beats can be infectious, they still don't mask the fact that his lyrics are often plain ugly.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DMX - An Instant Classic, August 10, 2001

By	Jeff LeBlanc "professional24" (Center Moriches, NY) - See all my reviews

The first time I picked this CD up was at my friends house over 2 years' ago. I'd never even heard of DMX, but I wanted to give it a chance, like I give all music. That night I walked out a changed guy. Later that week I made a stop at the store and picked up the best CD I ever bought. Every track is a masterpiece, from the intro, to the finely tuned skits. One by one, Earl Simmons created a conditioned work of art that cannot be topped. The "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is an urban classic, with a raw sound and beat that still bangs in parties and clubs today. Another hit, "Get At Me Dog" is another rough, and urban sound, which can get anyone's adrenaline soaring. Important messages are detailed throughout songs such as "Damien", which has some of the most well constructed lyrics I've ever come accross. Other tracks such as "Stop Being Greedy" and "ATF" relect on DMX's past street life, which can grab your attention and never let go. Softer cuts such as "How's It Goin' Down", "The Convo", and the infamous "Prayer" show DMX's softer side, and take away some of the anger and angst that is heard throughout all of the other tracks. This will forever remain a classic in the hip hop industry. It re-opened numerous doors for the east coast rap business, and hip-hop in general. This is one disc you cannot be without - satisfaction guaranteed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark Man X!, May 22, 2000

By	thatGirL (toronto) - See all my reviews

the true heads of hiphop, 85% aren't feelin DMX but "its dark and hell is hot" -i thought it was a good start for X. X aint the best lyricist, but i wouldn't rank him at the bottom.

My favourite songs would have to be:

Look Thru my Eyes - isn't it obvious? what its like being DMX

Let my Fly - good song, but its a little slow, still..sall good

Damien - this would be the best song out of all of it. it's most like a conversation between X and damien (the son of the devil?)

if you like this type of music, or this style, then go buy the album. dont just jump on the bandwagon.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Has one thing his other albums don't have--VARIETY, March 5, 2003

By	E.J. Rupert (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

I can definitely call this album a classic because it shows his versatility ("Stop Being Greedy" and "Damien" finds him rapping in different voices, while "How's It Going Down" is a successful joint for the ladies), his religious manner without being too preachy ("Let Me Fly"), and his energy, of course ("Ruff Ryders Anthem", "Get at Me Dog", "F'n Wit D" and "N'z Done Started Something"). On the latter song, Mase and The Lox guest starred on there to show everyone that they weren't no shiny suit rappers from Bad Boy. DMX also tells good stories on "ATF" and "Crime Story". On every album following this one, all of his songs have too many "What?"'s and "Come On!"'s, too many Swizz beats that derived from Casio, and too many songs that sound like rejects from this album.